World War II vet stowed away on a bomber
When the late Paul W. Svitak was a technical sergeant in the Air Force, he served as a flight chief for a bomb squadron.
The plane placed in his care was nicknamed "Tillie the WAAC." He had the responsibility to see that all mechanical details were perfect before the giant B-24 Liberator left the ground to fly against Japanese targets in the southwest Pacific.
"You feel as if the ship belongs to you and you are lending her to the pilot," Svitak said at the time.
While servicing his "ship" for the Wake Island expedition in December 1942, Svitak decided to become a part of the action. He got his parachute on board and, after giving the pilot the hi-sign to move out, went back in and hid.
After they were well on their way, he came out of hiding, surprising the crew.
"What in the world are you doing here?" the co-pilot asked.
"I'm going along," he answered.
To which the co-pilot replied, "You sure are!"
The raid was successful and reduced the island to rubble.
After returning from the mission, Svitak worried about what would happen to him but escaped with a sharp reprimand from the colonel. Strict orders were sent out that there were to be no stowaways on future flights.
Svitak's brazen venture landed him an interview on CBS's World News Today. After he shared his experience, the commentator described it as "an example of a typical young American's intense eagerness to get into action."
His parents at Pilsen, John J. and Victoria Svitak, were informed of the broadcast and heard his story on the radio.
"That is exactly like Paul, to do a thing like that," his father said.
"Here we were that day with everything so quiet and peaceful, never dreaming Paul was off on a trip like that," said his mother.
The story of Svitak's adventure was printed in a January 1943 issue of Marion Review (now Marion County Record).
In November 1948, Svitak was honorably discharged from the Air Force as a master sergeant. He wore the Asiatic-Pacific campaign ribbon with two battle stars.
Svitak made his home in Santa Monica, Calif., where he serviced planes at the airport.
He married and had two daughters. After his death in August 2003, in Burbank, Calif., his daughter kept his remains and recently decided to have them buried in Pilsen.
A private inurnment service was held Sunday at St. John Nepomucene Cemetery.
A full obituary is printed elsewhere.
